New Xbox 360 Controller With Redesigned D-Pad Out November 9

One of the oldest design oddities of the Xbox 360 controller--its concave disc D-pad that proved an ill fit for any game played in two dimensions--is finally getting addressed. Today, Xbox Live director of programming Major Nelson revealed that a new, redesigned wireless controller--bundled complete with Play-and-Charge kit--will arrive on stores shelves on November 9 in the US.

What makes this controller noteworthy, other than removing the various colors associated with the controller's face buttons (the rationale being that gray is "stylish"), is what Nelson refers to as the patented "transforming D-pad." By twisting the D-pad itself on the controller, you'll be able to shift that pad between two different design modes: the current, concave "disc" directional pad and a more traditional "plus" shaped pad, raised outside of the "well" on the controller.

And that new raised D-pad looks a little something like this!

How high can you get, D-pad? Look at how much higher that D-pad! It barely touches the well at all! Finally, I'll be able to pull off Zangief's supers and ultras without have to rely on crazy felines.

If you're looking to get your hands on this new controller, however, you're won't be able to grab it on its ownsome; Microsoft is currently only selling the new controller in a bundle set that includes the 360 Play-and-Charge Kit. However, Microsoft isn't charging any premium for their redesigned controller; like other controller-plus-charging cable bundles, the redesigned 360 controller with Play-and-Charge Kit will retail for $64.99. And while the new controller design is set to come to the U.S. first, Nelson assures that the new pad will make its way to Europe sometime closer to February.

In fact, you can watch Nelson show off the new controller and its new D-pad in detail in video form.

I feel like it's not a huge leap to say that the environment in which this control pad will really be tested is in fast-paced Super Street Fighter IV play. So, I turn to you fighting game fans out there; you haven't had the chance to try it out yet, but, do you think that, given the the new design, this raised D-pad looks to be a more suitable way to play Street Fighter than the old "disc?"

One of the oldest design oddities of the Xbox 360 controller--its concave disc D-pad that proved an ill fit for any game played in two dimensions--is finally getting addressed. Today, Xbox Live director of programming Major Nelson revealed that a new, redesigned wireless controller--bundled complete with Play-and-Charge kit--will arrive on stores shelves on November 9 in the US.

What makes this controller noteworthy, other than removing the various colors associated with the controller's face buttons (the rationale being that gray is "stylish"), is what Nelson refers to as the patented "transforming D-pad." By twisting the D-pad itself on the controller, you'll be able to shift that pad between two different design modes: the current, concave "disc" directional pad and a more traditional "plus" shaped pad, raised outside of the "well" on the controller.

And that new raised D-pad looks a little something like this!

How high can you get, D-pad? Look at how much higher that D-pad! It barely touches the well at all! Finally, I'll be able to pull off Zangief's supers and ultras without have to rely on crazy felines.

If you're looking to get your hands on this new controller, however, you're won't be able to grab it on its ownsome; Microsoft is currently only selling the new controller in a bundle set that includes the 360 Play-and-Charge Kit. However, Microsoft isn't charging any premium for their redesigned controller; like other controller-plus-charging cable bundles, the redesigned 360 controller with Play-and-Charge Kit will retail for $64.99. And while the new controller design is set to come to the U.S. first, Nelson assures that the new pad will make its way to Europe sometime closer to February.

In fact, you can watch Nelson show off the new controller and its new D-pad in detail in video form.

I feel like it's not a huge leap to say that the environment in which this control pad will really be tested is in fast-paced Super Street Fighter IV play. So, I turn to you fighting game fans out there; you haven't had the chance to try it out yet, but, do you think that, given the the new design, this raised D-pad looks to be a more suitable way to play Street Fighter than the old "disc?"

It took four years to hear the community﻿ complaints about the d-pad? They're only putting it on one model of controller? Removing the face colors? Only with the play and charge? SIXTY FIVE EFFING DOLLARS?!??!

I play my 360 more than any other console, but MS is really pissing me off lately between this and the XBL price increase. Get your act together, Microsoft. $65 is a cruel﻿ joke.

Maybe I don't use the D-Pad as much as other people, so I really don't have any problem with the gamepad. I surely looks nice, but my old 360 PC gamepad is here to stay :P What I don't like much is that the ABXY buttons are now white/grey/black :(

I think it's rather telling that I would rather have a 360 controller with a functional d-pad than a year of Xbox Live. But yeah, this should have been standard on all of their controllers post the redesign.

I disapprove of removing the button colors. Lots of games rely on those colors to identify buttons. They were a nice additional identifier for the buttons. Some people remember that the right button is B, but I bet that most people think of it as red.

It's about time. Still this won't make me stop using my TE stick for SSF4, but for the pad warriors out there it might be the holy grail.

Confused about removing the button colors though, that's integrated into games and instruction manuals from here to the dawn of XBOX360 time. My guess is that this particular pad will never be packed in with the console.

" So, you twist the d-pad and it sticks out a little? Um, big whoop. "

kind of a big deal for fighters (and even shmups) since it will allow more precision and greater range in the motion of the d-pad. the current d-pad is very mushy and provides little tactile feedback on its positioning relative to what you're actually doing on screen.

that said, SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS to fix what should have never been broken in the first place is outrageous.

So if you're unfamiliar with the controller, all those on-screen colorful button prompts will be less helpful. Make sure your non-xbox friends get the old pad then, I guess?

Can't see the pad being much better for fighting games, there's still not enough roll room. To be suitable for fighting games, it'd be better off like the Saturn pad, which was copied for the fight pad. Tough to fit that into the current pad shape though.

I don't understand. The problem with the D-Pad is that it's all stiff and clunky and unreliable. Does this fix that or not? Maybe it does but they're just talking about the shape changing. With this weird mechanism i would assume if anything it'll be worse...

Removing the colors seems like a bad idea, since every game representing the buttons on screen are color coded.

Also, the problem with the D-Pad had less to do with it's overall shape, and more to do with the fact that it only had 4 directions for input, instead of the full 8 that every other d-pad recognizes. Without diagonal recognition, games that make heavy use of quick movements between directions become difficult.

Sony and Nintendo own the patents for the most obvious D-pad design solutions - kind of explains why it took MS so long to come up with something that wouldn't infringe on those patents, and why it's such an odd solution.

" Removing the colors seems like a bad idea, since every game representing the buttons on screen are color coded. Also, the problem with the D-Pad had less to do with it's overall shape, and more to do with the fact that it only had 4 directions for input, instead of the full 8 that every other d-pad recognizes. Without diagonal recognition, games that make heavy use of quick movements between directions become difficult. Did they fix that issue? They make no mention of it. "

Oh, I totally agree that removing all button color is a bad idea. I mean if they do, they should go the sony route and just make the letter/symbol the color instead of the whole button if they are going for a sleeker look. But otherwise, I think this is just going to be off-putting to anyone who is not super familiar with videogames in general or even owns a Playstation 3 and maybe gets confused between X and B. Heck, I still sometimes have to think about it.

My original controller is old and the rubber is coming off of the sticks, so I got a new black one. But then I decided to play Lost Odyssey and the black controller met its demise, so I'm probably gonna get this. It looks really cool, and I bet you will be able to find it on amazon or ebay without the stupid charge kit. I'm pretty excited for this new D-pad change and the awesome looking design.